There’s something quietly radical happening in Virginia—and it smells like candied apricots and smoldering dark chocolate.
A. Smith Bowman Distillery has just unveiled the final chapter in its experimental Abraham Bowman Oak Series: Hungarian Oak, a 12-year-old bourbon aged in rare charred Hungarian oak barrels and bottled at a robust 115 proof. The release is the culmination of a 14-year experiment in oak influence that began with former Master Distiller Truman Cox and has since spanned three continents and three distinctive varietals: French, American, and now, Hungarian oak.
“This series was about challenging everything we thought we knew about aging whiskey,” says current Head Distiller David Bock, who calls Hungarian Oak “one of the most well-rounded whiskeys I have tasted.” Where American oak leans into spice and vanilla, and French oak offers structure and tannin, Hungarian oak does something altogether unexpected: it glosses over the usual heat with a warm, rounded richness.
The whiskey pours a deep, brown velvet in the glass. On the nose, there’s a heady aroma of candied apricot, followed by notes of honeyed apples. Then comes the palate—decadent and smoky, with dark chocolate taking the lead. But the real surprise is what’s missing: no black pepper, no clove, no telltale spike of spice that usually rides shotgun in long-aged barrels. Instead, the finish glides out gently, all dried fruit and lingering char.
The Abraham Bowman Collection has always been more than a lineup—it’s a kind of living tribute to its namesake, Colonel Abraham Bowman, a Revolutionary War figure who roamed the original Thirteen Colonies with Virginia’s 8th Regiment. Since 2010, each Abraham Bowman release has taken a different tack: playing with mash bills, wood finishes, or proof points. But the Oak Series feels like something else entirely—a slow-burning essay on time, terroir, and craft.
A limited number of 750ml bottles of Abraham Bowman Oak Series: Hungarian Oak ($79.99) will be released via lottery from August 11–18. Winners, selected on August 20, must purchase in person at the A. Smith Bowman gift shop within three weeks.
The oak may be Hungarian, but this whiskey is pure Virginian audacity—bold, patient, and quietly rewriting the rules.
For more, visit asmithbowman.com/spirits.
